Brazilian Men Crush World Record In 800 Free Relay – 6:46.81

2018 FINA SHORT COURSE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

  • Tuesday, December 11th – Sunday, December 16th
  • Hangzhou, China
  • Tennis Centre, Hangzhou Olympic & International Expo Center
  • SCM (25m)
  • Prelims: 9:30 am local, 8:30 pm ET / Finals: 7:00 pm* local, 6:00* am ET
  • *The final night of finals will be one hour earlier, starting at 6:00 pm local and 5:00 am ET
  • Live Results (Omega)

The Brazilian men came out on top in an insane 4×200 free final that saw three teams go under the existing world record, as they put up a time of 6:46.81 to go way under Russia’s 6:49.04 mark from 2010.

Luiz Melo went out like a rocket on the opening leg, flipping in 22.95 at the 50 and 48.26 at the 100 for a huge lead. He came back to the field on the last 50, splitting 1:42.03 to put them 2nd to the U.S., and then it was a see-saw battle with Russia and China from there.

Fernando Scheffer (1:40.99) regained the lead for Brazil swimming 2nd, and then after they fell to 3rd on Leonardo Santos‘ leg (1:42.81), Breno Correia anchored them home in 1:40.98 to edge out Russia. They finished just .03 back in 6:46.84, while China was 3rd in 6:47.53. Scheffer and Correia had the fastest splits in the field.

Russia’s top leg came from Aleksandr Krasnykh (1:41.08) on the anchor, and Sun Yang (1:41.25) was the fastest for China swimming 3rd. This was his only event of the competition.

Below, check out the splits of Russia’s old world record and the three teams that went under it tonight:

Russia, 2010 SC Worlds Brazil, 2018 SC Worlds Russia, 2018 SC Worlds China, 2018 SC Worlds
Lobintsev – 1:42.10 Melo – 1:42.03 Malytuin – 1:42.34 Ji – 1:42.67
Izotov – 1:42.15 Scheffer – 1:40.99 Vekovishchev – 1:41.57 Xu – 1:41.68
Lagunov – 1:42.32 Santos – 1:42.81 Girev – 1:41.85 Sun – 1:41.25
Sukhorukov – 1:42.47 Correia – 1:40.98 Krasnykh – 1:41.08 Wang – 1:41.93
6:49.04 6:46.81 6:46.84 6:47.53

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PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
5 years ago

If I had to guess, I would think that it’s extremely rare for the US to win the men’s (or women’s) 200 freestyle at a major international competition and not win the 800 free relay.

eagleswim
Reply to  PK Doesn't Like His Long Name
5 years ago

this intrigued me so I looked it up, and the only time I can find it happening in the past 20 years (men or women), SC or LC, is in 2002, when Klete Keller won the 200 Free at SC Worlds in Moscow, but the Australians won in the final, with USA getting third. Interestingly, Australia did not have anyone medal in the individual event, same as Brazil this year.

I could have missed something, but it is pretty interesting that it’s so rare.

eagleswim
Reply to  eagleswim
5 years ago

wait I’m a fool, Lochte won in 2010, Russia won the relay

Coach MM
5 years ago

How crazy is this! A third world country with the world record in the 800free relay!!

nah chief
Reply to  Coach MM
5 years ago

This ain it chief

Observer
Reply to  Coach MM
5 years ago

You are what’s wrong with this country my friend

5 years ago

The good about the Brazilian team is the age! Leonardo Santos is the oldest with 23. Altamir has 22, Scheffer 20 and Correia is only nineteen-years-old.

Dangus
5 years ago

USA Could have put together a faster relay but I don’t think they could have won

WV Swimmer
Reply to  Dangus
5 years ago

With Haas and Seliskar I think they win, but that is still 2 years (maybe longer) away

Rafael
Reply to  WV Swimmer
5 years ago

I don´t know.. remember Scheffer and Breno split 1:40:9x

ERVINFORTHEWIN
Reply to  WV Swimmer
5 years ago

in LC next year , it will be a serious battle if Usa put in Seliskar + Haas + Pieroni + a 4th strong leg with Brazil , UK and Russia . It will be epic for sure .

Rafael
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
5 years ago

I wanna see who will fill the 4th spot..
De Lucca might come back.. but not a given
I never saw Pumputis, Lanza and Leonardo Santos swim a 200 LCM free.. (Mostly I want a lot to see Lanza), and there is the new kid (Sartori 1:48:9 with 16, but probably he will be good enough on 2020 only)

Swammer
Reply to  ERVINFORTHEWIN
5 years ago

Want to see how Jack Levant progresses in LC this year could be the 4th leg at Worlds.

Drama King
Reply to  Swammer
5 years ago

Dont count out Aussies in LC. They probably have the best individual talent when it comes to 200 free.
Chalmers,Hortan,Winnigton, Cartwright, Graham, Lewis.. all 1.45 and 1.46
Then you have vetaran talent TFH, Mcevoy, David Mckeon, Dan Smith. That’s a real deep pool talent.

BraunMan
Reply to  Drama King
5 years ago

Chalmers is a 50 and 100 guy

Coach Amendoim
Reply to  Dangus
5 years ago

Tbh Brazil would still win in SCM. If you had Hass I’m sure US would get third but if we replaced Santos with Lanza or Joao that WR would be even lower…
#brazilwins#sorryUS#notthistime

About James Sutherland

James Sutherland

James swam five years at Laurentian University in Sudbury, Ontario, specializing in the 200 free, back and IM. He finished up his collegiate swimming career in 2018, graduating with a bachelor's degree in economics. In 2019 he completed his graduate degree in sports journalism. Prior to going to Laurentian, James swam …

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